Oar attachment.



'No'. 7108,I53. Patented Sept. 2, 1902. M. A. LINDER,

UAB ATTACHMENT. Y

l (Applicgton filed Dec. 11, 1901.) (No Model.) f

UNITED STATESA PATENT Orricn.

MONS A. LINDER, OF PULLMAN, ILLINOIS.

OAR ATTACHM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. l708,153, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed December 11, 1901. Serial No. 85,515- (No modela v T0 'cr/ZZ whom t may Concern:

Be it known that I, MONS A. LINDER, a citi:- zen of the United States, rsid'ingat Pullman, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Oar Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for oars whereby other force than that exerted by the arms of the oarsman may be transmitted directlyto the oars.

The object of the invention is to provide means for transmitting auxiliary force directly to the oars,which may be operated by the feet and legs of the oarsman or by an assistant and which` is attached only to the oars. Y

Figure 1 of thetaccomp'anying drawings represents V-a perspective View of a row-boat, showing this improved oar'attachment applied to a pair of oars and operated by an assistant. Fig. 2/of the drawings represents a perspective view of the attachment detached. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of an oar,showing the strengthening-plateat tachedY thereto and themeans for receiving the snap-hook, the ends of the oars being shown broken oft'. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of an oar, showing the fastening means for the improved oar attachment.

The same reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. Y

In the drawings an ordinary row-boat 10 is illustrated provided with the usual center seat 11 and the stern seat 12. Oars 2O and 30 are shown fulcrumed in the usual manner in rowlocks 13 and 14. erably provided each with two leather collars disposed thereon on opposite sides of the rowlocks for holding the oars firmly in place. I will describe the attachment as applied to the oar 2O only. The blade of the oar 2O is preferably provided with a strengtheningplate 21, situated about fteen inches, more or less, outboard from the loom. `This plate.

extends longitudinally vof the oar and is curved transversely to t the contour of the This plate is fastened to the oar by screws, as 22, or in/auy other suitable manner. A series" of screw-eyesgas 23, extend through vsaid plates and engage the body of the oar.

Yder the end bar 66.

' ner Vto, the buckle 70.

These oars are pref- Auxiliary-force-transmitting devices are shown inthe form of straps 40 and 50, and I will describe theV strap 40 only. This strap is preferably provided with a snap-hook 41 at one end thereof, which is adapted to engage the screw-eyes, as 23, and so attach the'straps to the oar. The hook maybe snapped into any of the eyes desired, which serves to regulate the amount of force vto be exerted in assisting the oarsmans arms. When the straps engage the oars at the eyes nearest the fulcrum, less assistance is rendered the oarsman thanl when they engage the eyes nearer the blades of the oars, as will be readily seen. These straps are preferably provided with loops, as 42, at their opposite ends, one of said loops being secured to thek end bar of a buckle and the opposite loop to a snap-hook 41. The buckle shown comprises a fiat rectangular plate having three slots and intervening crossbars. fIn attaching the buckle one end ot' a strap is passed down from the top of the buckle through the slot 61, then under the cross-bar 62, then up through the slot 63, over the bar 64, down through the slot 65, and un- T-he strap is then pulled through the buckle and a stirrup-loop formed by bringing the end of the strap back to the buckle 60 and securing the same around thev bar 66 to form one Vof the end loops 42. The other strap 50 is attached in a similar man- The'stirrup-loops are preferably provided with cylindrical stirrups orhandles having openings 81 extending centrally therethrough to receive the straps. The outer ends of these stirrup-pieces are preferably provided with ferrules, as S2.

VIn the operation of this device when the auxiliary force is to be provided by a coinpanion seated in the stern of the boat 10 the straps 40 and 50 are attached to the oars at any desired point by snapping the respective hooks, as 4l, into the screw-eyes secured to the oars. The stirrups SO and 90 are then grasped, one in either hand of the person in the stern, and the ends of the oars being held by the oarsman on the center seat-the boatis ready to be rowed. The oarsman thenleans forward, drawing the blades back, and inserts them in the water. The person on the rstern seat also bends forward simultaneously to permit the oars to be readily dipped into the water. The oarsman then pulls on the oars and the assistant pulls back on the straps and together they easily overcome the resistance of the water, and the boat is shot forward rapidly and with less exertion on the part of either operator than if one of them were working alone with his arms only.

This auxiliary-force transmitting device may also be used by the oarsman Without the aid of a companion. When it is desired to so use the device, the feet of the oarsman are inserted in the stirrups, the snap-hooks are attached to the oars in the manner above described, and the device is then ready for operation. The oarsman in dipping the oars for a stroke draws up his legs in a manner similar to the position assumed when using a sliding seat. He then dips in the blades, pulls on the oars, and straightens out his legs, With his feet in the stirrups. The stroke is thus made much quicker, much easier, and sends the boat along with a greater speed.

By the use of this device about thirty per cent. in speed is gained over the old method of rowing with the arms only and the device produced is simple and may be used with any form of row-boat without altering the structure thereof.

The plates, as 2l, are preferably attached to the oars at a point on a plane with the at front face of the blades relative to their stroke, so that in pulling on the straps the blades are reliably directed through the Water. The assistant seated in the stern of the boat may direct the course of the boat, if desired, by pulling harder on one oar than on the other through the straps attached to said oars, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the oarsman to guide or look out for obstacles.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with an oar, otan auxiliary ileXible power-transmitting device connected at one end to the oar at a point outboard from the loom, and an engaging loop disposed at the opposite end of said device.

2. The combination ofan oar, Flexible means attached to said oar at a point outboard from the loom for directly transmitting auxiliary force thereto, said means being provided with a loop for engagement by an assistant.

3. The combination of an oar, an adjustable strap for directly transmitting auxiliary force to said oar, said strap being attached at one end to said oar at a point outboard from the loom and having a loop at its other end provided with a stirrup.

4. An oar attachment comprising a strap provided with means at one end for removably engaging an eye on an oar at a point outboard from the loom, and at the other end With an adjustable loop having a stirrup.

5. The combination of an oar, a plate attached to said oar outboard from the loom and having a series of eyes disposed thereon, and a strap provided with means for removably eugaging said eyes.

6. The combination of an oar, a plate attached to said oar outboard from the loom and having a series of eyes disposed thereon, and a strap provided with means for removably engaging said eyes, said strap also having a stirrup attached thereto.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK IYIOLMBLAD, GEORGE R. HILLsTRoM. 

